Hand-held dispenser with mixing valves



March 10; 1970 H. G. LE HMANN HAND-HELD DISPENSER WITH MIXING VALVES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 16, 1968 a m m u V m m m 2 1 8. e i i n ow H 3 3 w: e NH 3 an March 10, 1970 LEHIMANN 3,499,581

HAND-HELD DISPENSER WITH MIXING VALVES Filed April 16. 1968 I s Sheets-Sheet 2 Q \0 X o j 1 f3 a I 1' INVENTOR.

Herberf 6. Ae/maxm BY WGf/VT H. G. LEHMANN HAND-HELD DISPENSER WITH MIXING VALVES Mai-ch 10, 1970 Filed A ril 16. 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent 3,499,581 1 HAND-HELD DISPENSER WITH MIXING VALVES Herbert G. Lehmann, Easton, Conn., assignor to Valve Corporation of America, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 16, 1968, Ser. No. 721,865 Int. Cl. B67d /60; B65d /20 U.S. Cl. 222-432 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hand-held dispenser with multiple valves and multiple containers whose discharge passages are contro ed by the valves. An outer container, usually pressurized, encloses the other or others which comprise flexible bags subjected to the common'internal pressure. One valve is a manually operable master, which controls the discharge to the exterior from an internal mixing chamber communicating with the inner bags. The other valve or valves are of the automatic, spring-charged back-check type Cross references to related applications (1) Copending application of William R. ODonnell entitled Hand-Held Dispenser With Dual Valve, Ser. No. 692,757, filed Dec. 22, 1967 and having common ownership with the present application.

(2) Copending application of William R. ODonnell entitled Hand-Held Dispenser With Dual Valve, Ser. No. 707,264, filed Feb. 21, 1968 and having common ownership with the present application.

PRIOR ART OF INTEREST (1) U.S. Patent No. 2,973,883 (2) U.S. Patent No. 3,217,936 (3) U.S. Patent No. 3,241,722 (4) U.S. Patent No. 3,272,389 (5) U.S. Patent No. 3,352,056 (6) U.S. Patent No. 3,326,416.

BACKGROUND This invention relates to small, hand-held pressurized dispensers such as are used for shaving cream and the like. The invention particularly involves a dispenser of the kind indicated, wherein several different liquids are stored and kept separate, these becoming mixed by a mixing valve means, only during the dispensing action. I

A prior dispenser of shaving lather, which effects a mixing of two separate liquids at the valve means to obtain a heating of the lather, is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,326,416. One liquid suitable for such use is hydrogen peroxide; the other liquid can contain sodium hypophosphite. The reaction of these results in an exothermic nonexplosive decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide, supplying heat to lathering ingredients whereby the discharge comprises a heated, foam-forming mixture or lather. Potassium sulfite may be utilized, to react with the hydrogen peroxide, instead of the sodium hypophosphite.

Other mixing valve arrangements are shown in Patents 2,973,883; 3,217,936; 3,241,722; 3,272,389 and 3,325,056.

3,499,581 Patented Mar. 10, 1970 ICE While the prior devices were operative in most circumstances and enjoyed various degrees of success, the valves and dispensers as shown were either complicated and costly, difficult to manufacture, not fully reliable when in extended use, or else lacked convenience of operation. The valve arrangements had, as a rule, a multiplicity of parts which necessitated considerable tooling, inventories, and assembly labor. Where the movements are complicated, or depended on critical values of resilience there ensued unreliability of operation, malfunctioning, etc. If critical dimensions were involve, there was in addition the matter of added cost.

In addition to the foregoing drawbacks, however, many of the prior devices lacked a precise coordination of the flow through the valves even though the valves were mechanically coupled and therefore theoretically properly timed, or else lacked means to prevent malfunctioning of the valves if they were not mechanically coupled and susceptible to inadvertent operation when the dispenser was shaken. The reason for the lack of precise coordination of the flows was due to the valves being of different types, as for example where was one a poppet type and the other a slide type. The opening and flow characteristics of these different types differed considerably, whereby the coordination suffered even though there was a mechanical coupling of the valve actuators. As a result there could be wasteful use of the several liquids intended to be mixed. With valves which were not mechanically coupled but depended on spring operation, there was a considerable likelihood of inadvertent operation due to the splashing action of the liquids against the valve parts in the event the dispenser is shaken or subjected to rough handling.

SUMMARY The above disadvantages and drawbacks of prior, mixing-type dispensers are obviated by the present invention, one object being to provide a novel and improved multiple-chamber dispenser and semi-automatic mixing arrangement therefor which is resistant to the effects of shaking of the dispenser, and which effects a more precise coordination of the flows through the valves making up the mixing means while at the same time being extremely simple and uncomplicated and having very few components characterized by simple, time-proved movements whereby there is achieved an especially low cost and an improved and reliable performance.

This is accomplished by the provision of a mixer construction employing a manually operable master valve which controls the discharge flow, and a bafiied or shielded slave valve which resists splashing action and controls flow from one of the separate containers, being in the form of an automatic back-check not mechanically con nected with the master valve but instead responding essentially only to the pressure and flow conditions that result from the operation of the master valve. Thus, the exact mechanical movement of the master valve is of no consequence to the slave valve, nor the movement-toflow characteristic of the master valve. The shielded or protected slave valve instead always automatically and faithfully follows the pressure and flow conditions established by the master valve, whereby a precise relationship is had that is independent of mechanical tolerances or couplings, valve seat variations, port shape and .location, etc. I

The present improved dispenser has a molded plastic, tubular valve housing provided with an internal annular valve seat at one end, said end portion of the housing being secured in the mounting cup or closure of a pressurized container and the other end portion carrying, communicating with, and being sealed to the neck of a flexible bag disposed in the container. A longitudinally movable master valve stem in the housing has a tubular 3 projecting end portion through which the discharge passes, and has a master valve shoulder at the base of the tubular portion, said shoulder being engageable with the said annular valve seat. The valve housing comprises a mixing chamber, and has a port communicating with the space in the container, which surrounds the bag, preferably via a dip tube. A shielded or protected spring-charged backcheck type slave valve is' provided, either in the lower portion of the valve housing to control the flow to the flexible bag, or else at the side valve opening or atthe bottom end of the dip tube 'to control the flow to the container interior. The check valve is protected against the effects of splashing, and effectively isolates the two liquids except when there is discharge flow as permitted by opening the master valve. Thus the check valve truly responds essentially to flow and pressure conditions, and not to the exact mechanical movement of the valve stem.

Depressing the stem results in both valve seats becoming open, and for such condition flow occurs from the flexible bag axially into the housing, and from the container area which is exterior to the bag, through the side wall passage of the valve housing into the latter to mix with the first-mentioned flow. The mixture passes out of the housing through the said one valve seat and through the tubular end portion of the stem. The stem shoulder is an elTective seal when the stem is not depressed. The master valving member is a single, simple molded piece. Besides such piece there is only the valve housing, a simple spring, and a washer-like valve seat member making up the master valve assembly, and a shielded or baffled back-check valve structure.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an improved mixing valve arrangement and dispenser as above set forth, wherein the desired discharge can be had with the container either inverted or else upright, depending on the particular construction provided'inside the container, in connection with the side Wall passage of the valve housing; wherein the likelihood of undesired leakage or mixing of the plurality of liquids is greatly minimized if not completely eliminated in spite of shaking, agitation or rough handling of the dispenser; and wherein only one of the valve devices is called on to withstand Ielatively high uni-directional pressures as effected in the container by the pressurized substance.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an axial sectional view of the simplified semiautomatic, pressure-responsive mixing valve and multiplecompartment dispenser as provided by the invention. The valve devices are shown in the closed or non-dispensing condition.

FIG. 2 is an axial sectional view like that of FIG. 1 but showing the dispenser inverted, with the valves in the discharging condition.

FIG. 3 is a view like that of FIG.- 1 but showing another form of the invention, adapted for discharge with the container remaining upright, the back-check valve being in the dip tube.

FIG. 4 is a view like that of FIG. 2, showing the discharging condition of the dispenser.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary axial section through the lower portion of the dip tube of FIG. 3, showing the automatically operated back-check valve carried thereby.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view partially in section, illustrating another embodiment of the invention wherein the outer container encloses a plurality of valved inner flexible bags.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the bottom portion of a dispenser, illustrating a modified form of the invention shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a dispenser, illustrating still another embodiment of the invention.

As shown, the hand-held dispenser and mixing valve construction of the invention comprises a relatively rigid, metal outer container or can 10 of a usual type, having a top shoulder 12 and neck portion 14, the latter being spanned by a usual type of metal mounting cup 16. The cup 16 has a raised central portion 18 of inverted cuplike configuration, provided with a central opening 20 in its transverse or top wall, the said opening having an upwardly drifted edge 22 and being of a size to slidably receive a vertical valve stem designated generally by the numeral 24.

Within the container 10 and carried by the raised portion 18 of the mounting cup 16 thereof is a tubular molded plastic valve housing 26 having a stepped central bore 28, and having at its upper end an annular exterior mounting flange 30 which is snugly received in the portion 18 of the'mounting cup, and is retained therein by inwardly offset portions 32 of the cup.

Clamped between the top wall 34 of the cup portion 18 and the uper end of the valve housing 26 is a resilient diaphragm or valve seat washer 36, having a central opening through which the valve stem 24 extends.

The upper portion of the valve stem 24 carries a usual type of depress button 38 having a discharge nozzle 40, said button being guided in a stationary body 42 attached to the upper portion of the container 10.

In accordance with the invention, the valve stem 24 and housing 26 with the valve Washer or seat 36 are constituted as a master discharge-controlling valve adapted to control by hydraulic pressure a shielded or baflied and protected slave valve constituted as a spring-charged backch'eck. By such arrangement, in conjunction with a flexible and collapsible bag or compartment provided in the container 10, there is effected in the housing a closely controlled mixing of two discharge streams from normally separated supplies, one stream coming from the container contents and the other from the enclosed compartment or bag.

Accordingly, there is shown a flexible and collapsible compartment orbag 44 having a neck portion 46 which is secured around the lower portion of the valve housing 26 so that the bore of the latter communicates with the interior of the bag 44. Any suitable means may be employed to secure the bag 44 to the valve housing 26 in tight sealing relation therewith, as will be understood.

Cooperable with the valve washer 36 is an annular exterior master-valve shoulder 48 provided intermediate the ends of the valve stem 24, said stern having an upper portion 50 of tubular configuration located above the shoulder 48, and having a side passage 52 in the Wall of the portion 50, immediately adjacent the valve shoulder. A valve return spring 54 engages the shoulder 48 and also an interior annular shoulder 56 in the valve housing, thereby to bias the valve stem 24 upward as viewed in FIG. 1, maintaining the shoulder 48 in engagement with the valve washer 36 whereby the valve is closed, preventing egress of the contents of the container 10 and bag 44.

The shoulder 56 in the valve housing 26 constitutes a guide for the lower cylindrical portion 60 of the valve stem 24, which portion has a longitudinal groove 61 thereby to prevent it from closing off the bore of the valve housing at said point and instead permit passage of liquid upward from the flexible bag 44 at all times.

The valve stem 24 has a side depression 62 located above the cylindrical portion 60 as seen in FIG. 1, which is adapted to be disposed within the annular bead 58 when the valve stem is depressed or forced inward as illustrated in FIG. 2 thereby to insure unimpeded upward flow. For such position, the side passage 52 of the tubular portion 50 of the valve stem 2-4 will be disposed within the valve housing 26, and accordingly a passage is thus provided whereby the contents of the flexible bag 44 can be discharged upward through the housing 26, past the lower portion of the valve stem 24, inwardly through the side passage 52 thereof and up through the tubular upper portion 50 of the stem, to be discharged from the nozzle portion 40 of the depress button 38.

The shielded or protected back-check valve comprises a ball 51 biased downward by a spring 53 and engaged in a valve seat in the bottom of a cup 55 having a passage 57. A baflle 59 is provided, in accordance with the invention, having an oflset hole 59a which constitutes a devious passage whereby shaking of the container will minimize the likelihood of the check valve 51 being inadvertently dislodged and caused to leak. I

The tapered shape of the cup 55 facilitates the assemblage of the expansible neck 46 of the bag 44 to the valve housing.

The valve housing 26 also has a side passage 62a by which communication is established between the interior of the container and the interior of the valve housing 26. Accordingly, when the valve stem 24 isdepressed as illustrated in FIG. 2, the contents of thecontainer '10 may also be discharged, such' contents flowing inward through the side passage 62a and into the interior of the valve housing 26 and (at such locations) mixing with the liquid which is flowing upward from theflexible bag 44'through the back-check valve 51. p

The mixture of these liquids will then pass through the side passage 52 of the valve stem, and upward through the tubular portion 50 to be discharged from the nozzle 40 of the depress button 38 as a mixture.

When the master valve 48 is closed, the spring 53 closes the slave valve 51, thereby preventing any undesired mixing of the liquid from the bag 44 with the liquid exterior to the bag (within the housing 26 and container 10). But as soon as the valve 48 is opened, the pressure on the exterior of the bag 44 and reduced pressure in the housing 26 will result in the valve 51 shifting upward-and opening.

Where the dispensing device is intended to dispense a warm lather of foam, the flexible bag 44 may contain hydrogen peroxide. A lathering mixture may be provided in the container 10, made up of various ingredients'Such lathering mixture, in addition to 'soaping, foaming and softening agents, may contain as an examplesodium hypophosphite; or instead it may contain potassium sulfite. Such substances, when mixing with the hydrogen peroxide flowing upward from the flexible bag 44, causes a chemical reaction which results in an exothermic non-explosive decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide'whereby heat is produced and supplied to the mixture so that the discharge from the nozzle 40 of the depress button 38 is in the form of a heated foam or lather.

It will be understood that the contents of the container 10 may be pressurized by the addition of any suitable non-reactive, pressurizing agent, as for example a 40/60 mixture of dichlorofluoromethane and symmetrical dichlorotetrafluoroethane. Other propellant substances may be used, as well, their use being well known in the art.

Accordingly, the contents of the container 10 will effect a pressun'zing of the same, and such pressure will be transmitted to the flexible bag 44, causing a collapsing action of the same and efl ecting an internal pressure to which the hydrogen peroxide in the bag is subjected. In consequence, when the valve stem 24 is depressed as illustrated in FIG. 2 the pressurized liquids in the container 10 and bag 44 will result in the valve 51 opening, and 'in the various liquid contents being discharged through. the valve housing 26, upper valve stem portion 50 and discharge nozzle 40.

It will be understood that for the non-discharging position of FIG. 1, the pressure within the container'10 will at all times be transmitted to the contents of the flexible bag 44, tending to discharge the contents of the same upward through the valve housing. 26. Such pressure will also be manifested at the upper side of the valve 51, considering FIG. 1, and the determining factor will be the spring 53, acting to maintain the valve 51 closed.

The only valve device which is called upon to withstand the total pressure existing in the. dispenser comprises the master valve shoulder 48 of the valve stem, cooperating with the valve disk or washer 36. Such arrangement is not only especially simple, but can be proved to be particularly effective and leakproof over a period of years. The provision of the baflie 59,with its oifset opening 59a prevents inadvertent leakage or cracking of the valve 51 if the dispenser is shaken or agitated to cause splashing or momentary uneven pressures in the interior.

. It will now be seen from the foregoing that I have provided an especially simple yet effective semi-automatic dual or mixing valve arrangement in conjunction with a dispenser having multiple compartments containing liquidsv which are kept separate from each other and which mix within the valve housing 26 upon the occasion of the valve stem 24 being held in the depressed position. The opening of the valve 51 does not depend on the exact physical movements of the stem 24 but instead on hydraulic pressures and flow resulting from operation of the stem 24.

Relatively few parts are involved in the valving device, comprising essentially the molded housing 26, molded valve stem 24, valve return spring 54, valve washer or disk 36, and back-check valve 51 with spring 53 and bafile 59.

' Inasmuch as the valve washer 36 is rigidly affixed to the upper end of the valve housing 26 it is considered as being a part of such valve housing, and in such connection the raised portion 18 of the mounting cup 16 may be considered as not only a supporting device for the valve housing, but also as a clamping device which permanently se cures the valve disk 36 against the end of the valve housmg.

Another form of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 3-5. This form is in many respects similar to that already described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2, and accordingly similar characters of reference have been used to designate similar parts. The form of the invention of FIGS. 3-5 differs in that means are provided to enable a discharge of the contents of the dispenser to be effected with the container held in an upright position, as illustrated in FIG. 4, and the automatic shielded backcheck valve is connected with said means. structurally, the difference involves the provision of a dip or siphon tube which is connected to the side discharge opening of the valve housing, said tube extending downward and having in its lower end adjacent the bottom of the container 10 a spring-charged back check which is shielded or baflled by the bottom wall itself of the container 10.

As shown, the valve housing 26a is provided with an angularly and downwardly extending tubular fitting 64 having a central passage 62b which opens into the interior or bore 28a of the valve housing. Fitted over the fitting 64 is a dip tube 66 which extends to a location closely adjacent the bottom wall of the container, as shown in FIG. 3. Otherwise, the valve housing 26a is similar to the housing 26, having a top rim portion 30a by which it is mounted in the cup 16, and having a valve seat portion 58a cooperable with the stem portion 60, and an internal shoulder 56a which is engaged by the valve return spring 54.

The shielded check valve on the tube 66, as shown in FIG. 5, comprises a housing or cup 70 having a perforated bottom or valve-seat portion 72 with a passage 74 disposed closely adjacent the container bottom 11 so as to be effectively protected thereby against the effects of splashing or agitation of the dispenser should be shaken or upset. In the cup 70 is a ball valve 76 urged downward by a spring 78 engaged with the bottom end of the tube 66. The cup 70 has an enlarged rim 80 which is pressfitted over the lower end of the tube 66.

Operation is in general similar to that already described, except that the container 10 is always kept in an upright position and except that the bafiied check valve prevents flow from the dip tube '66 into the container 10, permitting only the reverse or outflow upon actuation of the master discharge valve stem 24. As shown in FIG. 4, upon the application of finger pressure to the depress button 38, the valves 48 and 76 will be opened and discharge will occur from the inner collapsible container 44 up ward through the central bore of the valve housing 26a, and also from the container 10 past the valve 76, up through the dip tube 66 and passage 62b and in through the side wall of the valve housing 26a The mixture of the two liquids occurs upon the discharge being effected, and the heated mixture is shown as leaving the nozzle 40 in FIG. 4.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 6, wherein the dispenser has an additional inner container 84, connected to an additional side fitting 65b of the valve housing 21b. The housing 26b has the side fitting 64b connected to a dip tube 66b at the lower end of which there is a closure plug. 86. A back check valve 55 similar to that shown in FIG. 1 is provided on the end of the side fitting 65b, and the flexible bag or container 84 is connected to the intake end of the back-check valve 55 of the fitting 65b. A second back-check valve 55 is carried at the bottom end of the housing 26b, to prevent inflow into the container 44. The flexible containers 44 and 84 may contain different liquids intended to be mixed, and the outer container 10 may by way of example contain only the pressurizing liquid or medium, which now acts on the exteriors of the containers 44 and 84 when the discharge occurs. Ingredients in the pressurizing liquid of the container 10 thus can be mixed with the two other liquids of the inner containers. In such circumstances, the pressurizing substance becomes dissipated with the mixture, whereas if the plug 86 is used, the pressurizing substance is never lost and the mixture is made only from the liquids in the bags 44 and 84. In some circumstances it might be desirable to provide a back-check valve at the bottom of the dip tube 66b in FIG. 6, in place of the plug 86. Such arrangement is shown in FIG. 7, wherein the dip tube 66b has affixed to it the back-check valve shown in FIG. 5, including the housing cup 70. Thus, the arrangement of FIG. 7 represents a dispenser having three different containers for three diflerent liquids, each container having its own back-check valve whereby only discharge of liquid can occur from the containers, and not ingress. Adequate isolation of the different liquids is thus had.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 8, wherein the bafile or shield for the back check valve is constituted of the dip tube itself. In this figure there is shown the container 10 with bottom wall 11, and the flexible inner bag 44. The side fitting (not shown) of the valve housing, which could be the fitting 64 of the housing 26a shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, carries a back check valve 55 like that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 but without the baffle member 59*. Instead of the battle 59 the dip tube is used as a shield or baflle.

Attached to the lower end of the back check valve 55 is a dip tube 66c which extends to a point closely adjacent the bottom wall 11 of the container. It will be understood that the dip tube 660 shields the back check valve 55 from the eflects of splashing, as when the container is shaken or agitated. Thus, the dip tube 660 minimizes the likelihood of inadvertent opening or leakage of the back check 55 during the times that the master valve 48 is closed.

The valving arrangement which is shown involves a simple straight-line movement of the master valve stem, said stem being fully guided against tilting, jamming, etc. whereby especially reliable operation is had, and involves automatic movement of the ball valve 76 in response to pressure differentials and the spring 78. Normally, no leakage or seepage occurs past the valve seat 72 by virtue of the cancelling-out equal and opposite hydraulic pressures existing above and below the valve 76 when no discharge is occurring, and by virtue of the shield or baffle arrangement associated with the check valve.

The overall organization of dispenser and mixing valve device employs a minimum number of parts, said parts being economically producible and readily assembled, as will be understood.

Variations and modifications may be made, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. A pressurized dispenser including a mixing-type valve construction for handling pressurized liquid-type products, comprising in combination:

(a) a pair of containers for separately holding liquids intended to be dispensed,

(b) closures for said containers, providing a discharge channel,

(c) a manually operable master discharge valve adapted to open and close said discharge channel,

(d) an automatic back-check valve mechanically independent of said master'discharge valve and connected with one container, for permitting flow therefrom only in a direction into the discharge channel, in response to pressure differentials on-opposite sides of the valve, wherein the improvement comprises: (e) baflle means comprising a wall disposed-between said back-check valve and the interior of said one container, said wall being located at one side of and closely adjacent said back check' valve and tending to preventwopenin'g of the same during momentary fluctuations *of relative pressure on opposite sides of the valve.

2. A pressurized dispenser including a mixing-type valve construction for handling pressurized liquid-type products, comprising in combination: 1

(a) a pair of containers for separately holding liquids intended to be dispensed,

(b) closures for said containers, providing a comrno discharge channel, V

(c) a manually operable master discharge valve adapted to open and'close said discharge channel,

(d) an, automatic back-check valve mechanically independent of said master discharge valve and connected with one container, for permitting flow therefrom only in adirection into the discharge channel, in response to pressure differentials on opposite sides of the valve, wherein the improvement comprises:

(e) baflle means comprising a wall disposed at one side of and closely adjacent said back check valve, tending to prevent opening of the same during momentary fluctuations of relative pressure on opposite sides of the valve, (f) a dip tube in said one container, extending to the bottom thereof, H 1 (g) said back-check valve being disposed at the bottom end of the dip tube.

,3. A dispenser as in claim 2, wherein:

(a) the batfle means comprises the bottom wall of said one container.

4. A dispenser as in claim 1, and further including:

(a) a dip tube in the other of said containers, extending to the bottom thereof. t

5. A dispenser as in claim 1, wherein:

(a) the said one container is disposed inside of the other container.

6. A dispenser as in claim 4, wherein:

(a) the closures include a tubular valve housing having an annular valve seat,

(b) said master discharge valve comprising a valve stem longitudinally movable in the housing and having an annular shoulder cooperable with said valve seat,

(c) said back-check valve being carried in one end of said valve housing,

(d) said one container being connected to and communicating with said one housing end.

7. A pressurized dispenser including a mixing-type valve construction for handling pressurized liquid-type products, comprising in combination:

(a) a pair of containers for separately holding liquids intended to be dispensed,

common (b) closures for said containers, providing a common discharge channel,

(c) a manually operable master discharge valve adapted to open and close said discharge channel,

(d) an automatic back-check valve mechanically independent of said master discharge valve and connected with one container, for permitting flow therefrom only in a direction into the discharge channel, in response to pressure diiferentials on opposite sides of the valve, wherein the improvement comprises:

(e) bafile means comprising a wall disposed at one side of and closely adjacent said back check valve, tending to prevent opening of the same during momentary fluctuations of relative pressure on opposite sides of the valve,

(f) a second automatic back-check valve mechanically independent of said master discharge valve and connected with the other one of said containers for permitting flow therefrom only in one direction into the discharge channel in response to pressure differentials on opposite sides of the said second back-check valve.

8. A dispenser as in claim 7, and further including:

(a) a third container enclosing the other two containers and also closed by said closure,

(b) means providing a channel connecting the interior of the third container with said common discharge channel, and

(c) a third automatic back-check valve mechanically independent of said master discharge valve and connected with said channel-providing means to permit flow from the third container only in one direction into said discharge channel in response to pressure diflerentials on opposite sides of the said third backcheck valve.

9. A dispenser as in claim 8, wherein:

(a) the channel-providing means connected with the third container and common discharge channel comprises a dip tube,

(b) said third back-check valve being disposed at the bottom end of the dip tube.

10. A pressurized dispenser including a mixing-type valve construction for handling pressurized liquid-type products, comprising in combination:

(a) a pair of containers for separately holding liquids intended to be dispensed,

(b) closures for said containers, providing a common discharge channel,

(c) a manually operable master discharge valve adapted to open and close said discharge channel,

(d) an automatic back-check valve mechanically independent of said master discharge valve and connected with one container, for permitting flow therefrom only in a direction into the discharge channel, in response to pressure differentials on opposite sides of the valve, wherein the improvement comprises: (e) baflle means comprising a wall disposed at one side of and closely adjacent said back check valve, tending to prevent opening of the same during momentary fluctuations of relative pressure on opposite sides of the valve, (f) a dip tube in said one container, (g) said back-check valve being disposed at the bottom end of the dip tube, and (h) a second automatic back-check valve mechanically independent of said master discharge valve and connected with the other one of said containers for permitting flow therefrom only in one direction into the discharge channel in response to pressure diiferentials on opposite sides of the said second back-check valve. 11. A pressurized dispenser including a mixing-type valve construction for handling pressurized liquid-type products, comprising in combination:

(a) a pair of containers for separately holding liquids intended to be dispensed,

(b) closures for said containers, providing a common discharge channel,

(c) a manually operable master discharge valve adapted to open and close said discharge channel, (d) an automatic back-check valve mechanically independent of said master discharge valve and connected with one container, for permitting flow therefrom only in a direction into the discharge channel, in response to pressure difierentials on opposite sides of the valve, wherein the improvement comprises:

(e) baflle means comprising a wall disposed at one side of and closely adjacent said back check valve, tending to prevent opening of the same during momentary fluctuations of relative pressure on opposite sides of the valve,

(f) said batfle means comprising a dip tube in said one container, extending to the bottom thereof and connected with the inlet of said back-check valve.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

